Coppélia - The Ballet

Copp?lia - The Ballet

Presented by Cincinnati Ballet

October 21-23, 2016

Copp?lia premiered on 25 May 1870 at the Th??tre Imp?rial l'Op?ra, in Paris

Choreography: Kirk Peterson

Music: Leo Delibes, performed by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Carmon DeLeone, Conductor

Artists:

Cincinnati Ballet Company Dancers

Lesson Plans prepared by Dr. Beverly Croskery, Ph.D.

Table of Contents

I. The Lesson Lesson at a Glance Plan Overview, Instructional Objectives,

II. General information About the Composer, Leo Delibes

III. Coppelia:The Ballet - Synopsis\ IV. The Nutcracker ? The Ballet Synopsis V. The Activities VI. Ohio Academic Standards (Common Core)

Dance, Art, Theatre, Language Arts, Music, Social Studies Assessment (Attached separately)

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I. THE LESSON

Lesson at a Glance:

Grade Band: K--12

Integrated Subjects:

Dance, Theatre, English Language Arts, Social Studies

Lesson Overview/Objectives

The lesson introduces the student to the place of fairy tales in historical ballet and how a story can be told using dance, music and pantomime to tell a story. The student will also learn of the historical significance of the Coppelia Ballet and other world events that took place at the time of its creation. A Comparison to the Nutcracker will be made and the students will have an opportunity to create their own movements for the stories. Other activities to encourage creativity and critical thinking are included.

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Cl?ment Philibert L?o Delibes (French: [dlib]; 21 February 1836 ? 16 January 1891) was a French composer of the Romantic era (1815?1910), specialised in ballets, operas, and other works for the stage. His

most notable works include ballets Copp?lia (1870) and Sylvia (1876) as well as the operas Le roi l'a dit (1873) and Lakm? (1883).

The composer was born in Saint-Germain-du-Val, now part of La Fl?che (Sarthe), France, in 1836; his father was a mailman, and his mother a talented amateur musician. His grandfather had been an opera singer. He was raised mainly by his mother and uncle following his father's early death. In 1871, at the age of 35, the composer married L?ontine Estelle Denain. His brother Michel Delibes migrated to Spain; he was the grandfather of Spanish writer Miguel Delibes.

Starting in 1847, Delibes studied composition at the Paris Conservatoire as a student of Adolphe Adam. A year later he began taking voice lessons, though he would end up a much better organ player than singer. He held positions as a rehearsal accompanist and chorus master at the Th??tre Lyrique, as second chorus master at the Paris Op?ra (in 1864), and as organist at Saint-Pierre-de-Chaillot (1865?71). The first of his many operettas was Deux sous de charbon, ou Le suicide de Bigorneau ("Two sous-worth of coal"), written in 1856 for the Folies-Nouvelles. A ceremonial cantata, Algers, for Napoleon III on the theme of Algiers, brought him to official attention; a collaboration with Ludwig Minkus resulted, in which Delibes composed music jointly for the ballet La source (1866), which brought him into the milieu of ballet. In 1867 Delibes composed the divertissement Le jardin anim? for a revival of the Joseph Mazilier/Adolphe Adam ballet Le corsaire. He wrote a mass, his Messe br?ve, and composed operettas almost yearly and occasional music for the theater, such as dances and antique airs for the 1882 revival of Victor Hugo's Le roi s'amuse, the play that Verdi had turned into Rigoletto Delibes achieved true fame in 1870 with the success of his ballet Copp?lia; its title referred to a mechanical dancing doll that distracts a village swain from his beloved and appears to come to life. His other ballet is Sylvia (1876). Never in robust health, Delibes died little more than a month before his 55th birthday. He was buried in the Cimeti?re de Montmartre in Paris. (Information and picture from Wikipedia. Find more information by clicking on blue underlined words. )

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III. Copp?lia Synopsis

ACT I

In a small town in Galacia in the mid-19th century, a young man, Franz, is soon to be married to his sweetheart, Swanilda. However, he is captivated by a mysterious girl whom he sees every day, as she reads a book on the balcony at home of Dr. Copp?lius, a local toy maker. Unbeknownst to Franz, this "girl" is actually mechanical doll that Dr. Copp?lius has constructed and is so lifelike that everyone in the town has imagined it to be his beautiful daughter. Franz's fianc?e Swanilda is very annoyed when she discovers that Franz has been flirting with this "other girl." The villagers enter and dance a lively mazurka, after which the burgomeister (the master of the town) pays them a visit. He announces that there is to be a party the following day in celebration of the Duke's gift of a new bell for the Town Hall, and anyone betrothed on this occasion will receive a dowry from the Duke. The burgomeister then offers all the young girls of the town a shaft of wheat. According to local custom, if one hears anything upon shaking the wheat, their beloved "loves them true," but if it is silent, their beloved "loves them not." Swanilda hears nothing and suspects the worst. Franz thinks the custom is silly. After everyone dances a czardas (a traditional Hungarian folk dance), the village festivities begin to calm down. Dr. Copp?lius then ventures out of his workshop. He is teased by the rambunctious youths and then drops the key to his front door. Swanilda and her friends find they keys and decide to explore Copp?lius' workshop to investigate. Franz returns and he, too, decides to sneak into the workshop through the balcony window and finally meet the mysterious Copp?lia.

ACT II

Inside the workshop, Swanilda approaches the room that hides Copp?lia. They are astonished and amused to find that she is a doll. The girls mischievously set other dolls in motion and playfully dance around them. Dr. Copp?lius finally returns and drives all of them out except Swanilda, who hides in Copp?lia's room and takes the doll's place to avoid detection. Franz then appears and Copp?lius, pretending to be one of his own dolls, captures Franz and threatens to punish him. On second thought, however, he adopts another plan: he offers Franz a sleeping potion and Franz soon falls asleep. Using a book of spells and magic, Dr. Copp?lius tries to bring Copp?lia to life. Swanilda, acting as the doll, pretends to come to life. Copp?lius is amazed and overjoyed when he thinks that his spells have worked. Swanilda plays along, dancing and winding up all the dolls in the workshop. Finally, she wakes up Franz and they escape the workshop together. Dr. Copp?lius realizes he has been tricked!

ACT III

The next day the party is in full swing and everyone is celebrating the dawn of a new day. The burgomeister bestows a purse of gold to Swanilda and Franz on their wedding day. Dr. Copp?lius angrily arrives on the scene to complain of the previous night's mischievous adventures, but the burgomeister gives him a purse of gold as well. The village dances ensue and all the townspeople join in the wedding festivities.

IV. Nutcracker Synopsis

Act I Scene 1 Blanche's Kitchen

Our story begins on Christmas Eve. There is a flurry of activity as the maids, butlers and chef prepare for a Christmas Eve party where friends and family of the Stahlbaum's will gather to open presents and celebrate

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the holiday. The Stahlbaum's son Fritz and their daughter Clara try their best to be helpful, but that is not without its complications.

Scene 2 The Party

The Stahlbaum living room is bright and festive with the most beautiful Christmas tree imaginable. All the guests and children are having a marvelous time dancing, laughing and opening gifts when suddenly, Herr Drosselmaier bursts into the room. He is an older, mysterious doll maker, who can surprise all with unexpected acts of magic. With the swipe of his cloak, dresses change colors and dancing dolls appear. One doll is so beautiful that Clara bravely asks if she could have the doll for Christmas. But Mother Stahlbaum is clear that this will not be possible. Clara is sad until the magical Drosselmaier places the most colorful and adorable Nutcracker in her hands. She joyfully dances around the room showing off her splendid gift. Fritz wishes that Drosselmaier had given him the Nutcracker and in his frustration, grabs it from Clara and breaks it. Immediately, the precocious Fritz is scolded by his father and sent off to bed. Herr Drosselmaier, watching from across the room, comes to the rescue and mends the Nutcracker. The festivities continue well into the night, highlighted with a stately dance initiated by Clara's grandparents. As the evening comes to an end, and the guests depart to their own homes, Drosselmaier is the last to bid the family farewell. Just before heading up to bed, Herr Stahlbaum brings out one last gift. He fastens a beautiful and elegant necklace around his wife's neck and there is one last embrace before the parlor grows quiet and dark.

Scene 3 The Battle

Clara, with candle in hand, sneaks down the stairs to check on her beloved Nutcracker. She finds herself in the drawing room and is startled by the sound of scampering feet and the flickering of tiny eyes. Clara hears the chimes of the big grandfather clock striking midnight as a band of mischievous mice try to steal away her precious Nutcracker. Drosselmaier appears out of the darkness and with the wave of his arms, the mice scurry as the tree, parlor furniture and toys begin to grow. A terrible battle ensues between the mice and the toy soldiers. The Mouse King appears frightening everyone. The Nutcracker, having escaped the clutches of the mice, has grown to life-size and challenges the Mouse King to a duel. It is a fierce fight but the Mouse King is distracted by Clara's imaginary friend, Minnie, the poodle, allowing the Nutcracker to wound his foe. As the mice scamper away and the parlor once again grows quiet, Clara sees her Nutcracker magically transform into a handsome prince. He takes her hand as they begin their journey into a land of swirling snowflakes. In a flurry of transformation they find themselves in a magical snow forest. There, they meet the noble Snow Queen & King who dance with an entire snowstorm of flakes. Just as the storm subsides, a beautiful flying ornament descends to take Clara and her Nutcracker Prince to the Land of Sweets.

Act II

The Land of Sweets

As the curtain opens on Act II, we see a delightful assortment of filigree frosted cakes. It is the Sugar Plum Fairy's Kingdom, an international land attracting people from all over the world because it is the sweetest place on the entire planet. All of the characters from the Land of Sweets are frolicking and playing together when suddenly, their Queen, the Sugar Plum Fairy, arrives. All bow to honor her and her cupcake and 4

gingerbread boy attendants. The Sugar Plum Fairy graces them with a special dance when suddenly an enormous flying ornament appears carrying Clara and the Nutcracker Prince. The Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes them and they are treated to the kingdom's most sumptuous delights. Clara is reunited with Minnie, her poodle, and together they recount the fierce battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The entire kingdom cheers as the Nutcracker reenacts his victory. Each character honors them with a special dance. As the celebration continues, the Land of Sweets transforms before their eyes into a beautiful garden full of flowers with flowing petals and one brilliant pink rose. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cotton Candy Cavalier do a grand dance as a special treat for Clara. All the characters join together for a rousing finale. As their dancing concludes, the flying ornament descends to take Clara and her Prince high over the mountains, further and further away from the Land of Sweets. Suddenly, Clara opens her eyes and she finds herself at home in the parlor room with her imaginary friend by her side and her beloved Nutcracker watching over her, always.

V. THE ACTIVITIES

GENERAL DISCUSSION (Critical Thinking)

1. Both Coppelia and The Nutcracker are based on fairy tales. What is a fairy tale? What is the difference between fantasy and reality? Is there anything in either of the stories that you would consider reality?

2. Compare and contrast the two stories. In what ways are they alike? In what ways are they different?

3. In Coppelia, Franz believes the doll has come to life but it is really his fianc?, Swanilda pretending to be the doll. He has been put to sleep by Dr. Coppelius, the dollmaker. Upon awaking both he and Dr. Coppelius believe the magic has brought her to life. In The Nutcracker, Herr Drosselmaier is both doll maker and magician. He performs many acts of magic in the story. Can you name some of these acts of magic? Other magical things happen when Herr Drosselmaier is not present. What are some of the similarities between Dr. Coppelius and Herr Drosselmaier. What are some of the differences? How might you express these emotions in movement and facial expressions. In what ways are their responses the same? How are they different?

4. Can you think of other fairy Tales that have similar plots? Notice that in most fairy tale you will find a villain such as the Dr. Coppelius or Herr Drosselmaier. Some believe that fairy tales were created to teach lessons in how we should behave. Can you think of any lessons Coppelia teaches?

5. The Cincinnati Ballet will also perform The Nutcracker during the Holiday season. If you do see that production, compare and contrast the two performances. Discuss the music, the characters, the plot, the costumes, etc. How are they similar and how are they different?

DANCE/MUSIC ACTIVITIES

1. If available, play the First Act of the music Coppelia by Les Delibes. Instruct students to close their eyes and see if they can follow the story through the music. (If this music is not available, choose music you think would be suitable.)

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